A term that originated in the last century to describe (especially) journalists not tied to particular publishers, but independently made their living by contributing to multiple publications. By the late 1990s, this term spread to be applied to independent contractors working in the graphics arts and other related fields. At this time, the term can be used to refer to almost any independent professional worker who performs jobs transiently and is unaffiliated with a particular employer organization, though sometimes they may be affiliated with one or more agency organizations. Freelancers are typically classified as independent contractors.